It has sometimes been asked of me, how does going to a personal trainer once per week affect positive change?  I can only report on my own experience.

I love the Springtime because it bears with it the promise of the end of winter-like weather, even if we get hit from time to time by a sudden cold snap.  The days become longer and this provides the necessary lift to our spirit.  We are ready both physically and mentally to take on exciting new projects.  This is definitely the time of year to make positive changes in our life.

I love this You Tube one moment meditation: "How to meditate in a moment" cartoon by Martin Boroson 

Contrary to some misconceptions around the subject of meditation, you don't need a considerable block of time to derive some of the benefits and to take a break from the daily stresses of every day life.

Enjoy !!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6eFFCi12v8&feature=share

We talk of someone who seems to be all over the place and who is unfocused as being ungrounded.  They perhaps possess a quality that we might describe as being manic.  One moment they are charming, bright and intelligent. The next moment they are angry and prone to venting.  This may also manifest as laughing and full of joy one moment and tears and sadness the next.   We may wonder where this change of personalty came from so suddenly.

We traditionally make New Year’s resolutions at the beginning of the year. Then, by February or March, many of us have fallen by the wayside. The many ways that we had planned to improve ourselves, whatever that means for each of us, is but a faded memory.  Springtime is really the time for renewal and we can take this lesson from nature. After all, that is when we do most of our planting.  With the slight improvement in the weather, we have a better opportunity for new growth.

I found the full extract from the British Medical Journal for those that are interested.

Reported in the Globe and Mail, by Paul Taylor February 2006:

“Acupressure v. physio: Acupressure is far more effective at treating low back pain than conventional physiotherapy, according to researchers at National Taiwan University in Taipei.

Optimistically we are through the worst of winter.  In Toronto, the sidewalks are largely bare of snow after last week's major storm and some of us may be psychically gearing up for Spring.  Beware! It's not over.  Be overdressed rather than under. Remember mother's advice.  Well, she was right.

You don't need a whole host of sophisticated equipment to stay in shape.  With very little expense you can achieve your fitness goals.  This is the philosopy of Heather, our personal trainer at Healing on the Danforth.

I came across this short video which describes perfectly the personal training sessions here.  You can come  for one on one sessions or attend small classes. 

Observation, through sight, touch and interrogation, is the essence of TCM. It is an observation on how the body feels, reacts, and looks. TCM theory has been built up over thousands of years of simply observing the course of disease in the body. It observes the body as a micro planet with cold and heat; dryness and dampness playing a role in the human body’s health. If the body is a microcosm that needs to be balanced, the TCM practitioner is the weather person observing how the balance has been upset, and how one might be able to reset that balance.

From our Tai Chi and Chi Kung teacher, Geoff Busbridge, he offers the following interesting insight and advice for those of us making New Year resolutions:

“Are you planning to take on more in your life - working out, more exercise, better diet, more hobbies?  Or are you trying to give something else up, like smoking, unhealthy eating, television or mindlessly surfing the net?